Westerly: Beryl Rockhounding in South County, Rhode Island

Public accessBest spot1 mineralSouth County, Rhode IslandUpdated July 2026

Mineral reported: 1
Elevation: 200 ft
Best months: March to November

Westerly is famous for its fine-grained granite, and the pegmatite dikes cutting that granite have yielded smoky quartz crystals up to six inches and occasional beryl. The Smith and Redstone granite quarries, worked since the 1840s, are the source ground in Rhode Island's southwestern corner. It anchors the western end of the state's pegmatite mineralogy. Reported finds include beryl. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.

Plan your visit

Generally open to casual rockhounding

County: South County
State: Rhode Island
Nearest road: Quarry Road
Postcode: 02808
Coordinates: 41.38508, -71.73571

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Coordinates are approximate. Confirm the exact ground in the RockHoundR app, where land overlays show which agency manages the area.

Land & collecting status

Generally open to casual rockhounding

Most public-tagged spots sit on BLM, U.S. Forest Service, or other federal land where reasonable hand collecting of common rocks and minerals is allowed. Confirm posted rules and active mining claims before you dig.

Access note: The Westerly granite quarries are private, and most are only accessible on organized mineral club trips, so they should not be entered without permission. Pegmatite float and granite cobbles carrying quartz and feldspar can turn up in area gravels and along public shorelines nearby. Treat the named quarries as permission-only sites.

Public-land rules vary by agency, season, and field office. The RockHoundR app pulls live BLM, USFS, NPS, and tribal overlays so you can see exactly which agency manages the ground at this spot.

Best time to visit Westerly

39°J

41°F

47°M

57°A

66°M

75°J

81°J

80°A

74°S

63°O

54°N

44°D

Comfortable months (45 to 90°F highs)

Best months: March to November. Typical highs run 81°F in midsummer and 39°F in midwinter, with winter lows near 24°F.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, WESTERLY STATE AP station (4 mi away).

Geology at Westerly

This spot sits on Narragansett Pier Plutonic Suite - fine-grained granite, mapped as granite that formed roughly 285 to 265 million years ago. Granitic rock like this is where pegmatite pockets tend to occur, the coarse-crystal settings that typically carry beryl, tourmaline, mica, and feldspar.

Mapped unit: Narragansett Pier Plutonic Suite - fine-grained granite
Age: 285–265 Ma (Cisuralian to Guadalupian)
Rock types: granite
Elevation: 200 ft

Geologic mapping via Macrostrat and the underlying state geological survey maps (CC BY 4.0). Bedrock at the surface can vary within a mapped unit.

Today's weather

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Sources & verification

Spot details combine the public RockHoundR location dataset, normalized mineral labels, agency land-status checks in the app, and community submissions. Coordinates are approximate until verified in the field.

Rhode Island Geological Survey
Rhode Island DEM park rules
Community submissions reviewed against published agency rules

Found at Westerly

Each name opens all spots that produce that material; the encyclopedia link opens the full ID and field guide.

Beryl Encyclopedia →

Nearby rockhounding spots

Other rockhounding spots within driving distance of Westerly.

Across the state line from Westerly

Westerly is close enough to the Rhode Island border that the next-closest rockhounding spots are in a neighboring state. Worth knowing if you are already on the road.

New LondonSoutheastern Connecticut Planning Region, Connecticut · 15 mi awayApatite, Spodumene
NorwichSoutheastern Connecticut Planning Region, Connecticut · 21 mi awayCorundum, Sillimanite
StaffordSoutheastern Connecticut Planning Region, Connecticut · 33 mi awayIron Ore, Limonite, Quartz
Plum Bank BeachLower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region, Connecticut · 35 mi awayAgate, Moonstone
Slocum ProspectLower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region, Connecticut · 39 mi awayBeryl, Rose Quartz
Hewitt Gem QuarryLower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region, Connecticut · 40 mi awayBeryl, Aquamarine, Morganite

Westerly FAQ

Where is Westerly?+

Westerly is in South County, Rhode Island, at 41.38508, -71.73571. Nearest road: Quarry Road.

What rocks and minerals can you find at Westerly?+

Westerly is reported to produce Beryl.

Is collecting allowed at Westerly?+

Generally open to casual rockhounding. Most public-tagged spots sit on BLM, U.S. Forest Service, or other federal land where reasonable hand collecting of common rocks and minerals is allowed. Confirm posted rules and active mining claims before you dig. Always confirm current rules with the managing agency before a trip.

What tools should I bring to Westerly?+

A rock hammer, a pry bar, gloves, and safety glasses suit pegmatite ground. Work weathered zones and check dump piles; coarse crystals often sit in decomposed rock.

When is the best time to visit Westerly?+

The most comfortable months at Westerly are March to November.

How do I get to Westerly?+

Open the directions link to navigate to 41.38508, -71.73571 in Google Maps. The nearest road is Quarry Road.

More rockhounding in Rhode Island

See all 17 Rhode Island spots →

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